"How did it strike you on arrival? The exterior is a little odd, with all sorts of folds and windows, but indoors is super chic: There is a Burle Marx-inspired vertical garden, midcentury Modern chairs and sofas and a chic brass bar. It feels like the perfect middle ground between the classic scene at the Belmond Copacabana Palace to the north, and the excessive party vibe at the Fasano, just south. Nice. What’s the crowd like? Chic, sophisticated travelers with excellent taste. Maybe architects, designers and those wanting a subtle, tasteful scene The good stuff: Tell us about your room. My room was large and very comfortable, with lovely touches like plants and plump white sofas that make it feel like your own sophisticated beach side apartment. Plus, they had huge showers and bathtubs, and pillowy robes to lounge in on those couches after a day spent on the beach. Room service: Worth it? If room service was comprised of baskets and baskets of the delicious pan do queijo , a Brazilian cheese bread you order at breakfast, you'd be very, very happy. But just go downstairs and do the whole breakfast: healthful bowls of cool acai with grains and nuts, the freshest green juice and that wonderful cheese bread, served warm, is the most perfect start to the day. The breakfast salon has vertical gardens and skylights. How were the staff? Here's one negative: the wi-fi was shoddy at best. The staff, however, were exceedingly apologetic and tried to trouble shoot by letting guests access their laptops. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you. Beach access is great—it's right across the street from the southern part of Copacabana Beach, next to Ipanema—and the rooftop pool is super chic. Unlike Copacabana Palace, the pool gets sun all day long (and the bartenders up there mix a mean caprioska ). The spa is a knock-out, too. Bottom line: worth it, and why? This hotel is a welcome new opening and pace on Rio's Zona Sul. It's more subtle and modern to contrast the go-go party scene of the Fasano, yet without the sometimes stiffness of the Copacabana Palace. It feels young and sophisticated, and revives the more dated northern part of Zona Sul, yet it is close to Ipanema and Leblon."
